Thread feeder

ABSTRACT

A thread feeder with a polygonal core, designed to store a thread supply in the form of a multiplicity of turns, is mounted on a motor shaft and surrounded by a cup whose rim forms a discharge edge for the unwinding thread. The core is provided near the cup bottom with a ramp for the guidance of the thread which is fed in tangentially through the motor shaft; the cup may be secured to that shaft for joint rotation or may be freely journaled thereon, being held in the latter instance against rotary entrainment by suitable means such as an eccentric weight. A braking ring on the motor housing confronts the cup rim and carries bristles engaging the exiting thread.

United States Patent Sarfati et al.

[ 1 3 ,921,925 1 1 Nov. 25, 1975 THREAD FEEDER Inventors: Alberto Gustavo Sarfati; Giuseppe Vischiani, both of Como, Italy Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 335,918, Feb. 26. 1973, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 26, 1972 Germany 2209215 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1970 Muhlhausler 242/4701 3.637.149 l/1972 Frei 242/47.12 X 3,737,112 6/1975 Tellerman et al.. 242/4701 3,759,300 9/1973 Pfarrwaller 242/4701 X 3.791.598 2/1974 Vischiani et a1 242/47.12

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest G. Montague; Karl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno [57] ABSTRACT A thread feeder with a polygonal core, designed to store a thread supply in the form of a multiplicity of turns, is mounted on a motor shaft and surrounded by a cup whose rim forms a discharge edge for the unwinding thread. The core is provided near the cup bottom with a ramp for the guidance of the thread which is fed in tangentially through the motor shaft: the cup may be secured to that shaft for joint rotation or may be freely journaled thereon, being held in the latter instance against rotary entrainment by suitable means such as an eccentric weight. A braking ring on the motor housing confronts the cup rim and carries bristles engaging the exiting thread.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,921,925

US. Patent Nov .25, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,921,925

Fig. 2

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet3of3 3,921,925

Fig. 3

THREAD FEEDER This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 335,918, filed Feb. 26, 1973, now abandoned.

Our present invention relates to a thread feeder of the type wherein a polygonal body, designed to store a supply of thread in the form of a multiplicity of turns, is mounted on a motor shaft in the vicinity of guide means for directing the oncoming thread to the periphery of that body and from the latter to its ultimate destination.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of this type having means for insuring a smooth unwinding of the thread from the polygonal body.

This object is realized, pursuant to our present invention, by the provision of a cup carried on an extremity of the motor shaft which projects from a stationary motor housing, the thread being wound upon that body by eccentric guide means near the bottom of the cut and being unwound through an exit gap defined by the rim of the cup and confronting stationary braking means, advantageously a ring mounted on the housing and provided with thread-engaging bristles.

The above and other features of our invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a thread feeder embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a modification.

The thread feeder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a stationary motor housing 1 provided with an annular flange 2. A motor shaft 3, projecting from the housing, carries a cup 4 which is secured to it by a screw 7 and is open toward the housing 1, the interior of this cup accommodating a polygonal body with four axially extending rods 8 ll defining the corners of a square. The rods are provided with recesses 12 by which they are fitted onto a peripheral flange 13 of a disk 13 adjoining the bottom 6 of the cup 4. Flange 13' has a sloping face 15, forming a thread-guiding ramp, which merges into a face 15 lying in a plane perpendicular to the shaft axis. Bottom 6 of cup 4 is provided with an eccentric eye 14 traversed by a thread F entering the chamber 5, this thread being fed in through an axial bore 3' of shaft 3 which continues through the screw 7 to let the thread emerge at the outer surface of the cup bottom. The thread is then wound in a multiplicity of turns, but in a single layer, on the prismatic array of rods 8 11 which it approaches and leaves in a substantially tangential direction, exiting at a gap 16 formed between the rim 17 of cup 4 and a stationary braking ring 19 carrying a set of bristles 18 which sweep the edge of the rotating rim. Ring 19 has internal threads 20 engaging external threads 21 on a collar 22 which forms an extension of housing flange 2. This threaded engagement enables an axial adjustment of the position of ring 19 relative to housing 1, and therefore of the width of the exit gap 16, thus permitting selection of the most effective braking force exerted by the bristles 18 upon the unwinding thread; such adjustment also allows compensation of bristle wear during use.

If desired, cup 4 could be made of transparent material to facilitate observation of the winding and unwinding of the thread.

In the modified device of FIG. 3 the rotating cup 4 5 has been replaced by a cup 4' freely journaled on the projecting extremity of shaft 3 by a ball bearing 23 seated in its bottom 6. Guide disk 13 is integral with a plate 25 keyed at 26 to the shaft 3, this plate being formed with a generally radial bore 27 communicating with the axial bore 3 of the shaft and terminating in an elbow 14 from which the incoming thread is guided onto the ramp surface of disk 13. A hole 28 in elbow 14' can be aligned with an aperture 29 in the cup rim 14 to facilitate threading.

In order to prevent rotary entrainment of the cup 4 by the shaft 3, an eccentric weight 24 is secured to the cup at its inner wall surface. Such a weight, of course, will be effective to hold the cup in position only if the shaft axis is more or less horizontal rather than vertical as illustrated in the drawing.

We claim:

1. A thread feeder comprising:

a motor provided with a stationary housing centered on an axis and a shaft having an extremity projecting from said housing along said axis;

a polygonal body centered on said axis and mounted on said housing;

a cup carried on said extremity, provided with a rim extending axially of said extremity for substantially the entire length of said body whereby said body is spacedly enveloped by said cup;

eccentric guide means near the bottom of said cup for thread to be wound upon said body said guide means being connected with said extremity; and

stationary braking means confronting the rim of said cup and defining therewith an exit gap for engaging thread unwinding from said body.

2. A thread feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft is provided with an axial bore communicating with said guide means and forming an inlet for said thread.

3. A thread feeder as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a disk with a ramp surface carried on said extremity within said cup adjacent the bottom thereof.

4. A thread feeder as defined in claim 3 wherein said disk is rigid with said body.

5. A thread feeder as defined in claim 4 wherein said cup is secured to said shaft for rotation therewith said guide means forming an eye in the bottom of said cup.

6. A thread feeder as defined in claim 4 wherein said cup is freely journaled on said extremity and is provided with stop means preventing its rotary entrainment by said shaft, said guide means forming a generally radial channel in said disk communicating with said bore.

7. A thread feeder as defined in claim 6 wherein said stop means comprises an eccentric weight secured to said cup.

8. A thread feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein said braking means comprises a ring on said housing provided with thread-engaging bristles, said cup being open toward said housing.

9. A thread feeder as defined in claim 8 wherein said ring is axially adjustable with reference to said housing.

10. A thread feeder as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing is provided with an externally threaded annular flange, said ring having internal threads matingly engaging said flange. 

1. A thread feeder comprising: a motor provided with a stationary housing centered on an axis and a shaft having an extremity projecting from said housing along said axis; polygonal body centered on said axis and mounted on said housing; a cup carried on said extremity, provided with a rim extending axially of said extremity for substantially the entire length of said body whereby said body is spacedly enveloped by said cup; eccentric guide means near the bottom of said cup for thread to be wound upon said body said guide means being connected with said extremity; and stationary braking means confronting the rim of said cup and defining therewith an exit gap for engaging thread unwinding from said body.
 2. A thread feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft is provided with an axial bore communicating with said guide means and forming an inlet for said thread.
 3. A thread feeder as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means includes a disk with a ramp surface carried on said extremity within said cup adjacent the bottom thereof.
 4. A thread feeder as defined in claim 3 wherein said disk is rigid with said body.
 5. A thread feeder as defined in claim 4 wherein said cup is secured to said shaft for rotation therewith said guide means forming an eye in the bottom of said cup.
 6. A thread feeder as defined in claim 4 wherein said cup is freely journaled on said extremity and is provided with stop means preventing its rotary entrainment by said shaft, said guide means forming a generally radial channel in said disk communicating with said bore.
 7. A thread feeder as defined in claim 6 wherein said stop means comprises an eccentric weight secured to said cup.
 8. A thread feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein said braking means comprises a ring on said housing provided with thread-engaging bristles, said cup being open toward said housing.
 9. A thread feeder as defined in claim 8 wherein said ring is axially adjustable with reference to said housing.
 10. A thread feeder as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing is provided with an externally threaded annular flange, said ring having internal threads matingly engaging said flange. 